By Caroline Shannon-Karasik There’s no denying it: peanuts and their BFF peanut butter are classic foods. Without peanuts, a jelly sandwich would seem incomplete and the Cracker Jacks in “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” – an ode to America’s favorite pastime – would get a stand-alone shout out. For those who are allergic […]

Eat your breakfast! By Caroline Shannon-Karasik One of my absolutely favorite things about what I do as a health writer and coach is answering questions for each one of you. Not only do I love meeting you, but it thrills me to know I might be able to help you in even a small way during your […]

Healthy food face-off By Caroline Shannon-Karasik Every single day, we are faced with a flood of messages about what foods and vitamins are healthy for our bodies. Some claim to be the next big thing, while others have a finger pointed at them as the root of unhealthy diets. Guess what? Choosing healthy foods doesn’t have […]

Behind the scenes with gluten-free flours By Caroline Shannon-Karasik When I’m talking to people about a gluten-free lifestyle, I try to remind them it’s not nearly as complicated as one might think. In fact, a healthy gluten-free diet it built upon the same premise as any healthy diet: Eat healthy, whole foods! That means my plate […]

My gluten-free revolution in Dayton By Caroline Shannon-Karasik Guess what? My new book, “The Gluten-Free Revolution,” has hit the shelves! I know what you’re thinking: “Wow … nothing like shameless self-promotion, girlfriend.” And you know what? You can blame it on Dayton City Paper Publisher Paul Noah. During a recent phone conversation about my book, he […]

Coping with soy allergies By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik Last week, I chatted about lactose intolerance and how various dairy products – like milk, yogurt and cheese – can cause problems for people who cannot properly digest them. Well, once the paper hit stands, I started receiving emails about other food allergy concerns. The number one mention? […]

Milk: when it doesn’t do a body good By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik’s Today’s culture has a simple message when it comes to milk: Drink it. Advertisements, doctors and, yes, even grandmas encourage children and adults to consume the dairy beverage in order to build strong bones and a healthy body. However, for a large percentage of people, an […]

Full body moves for a healthy core By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik’s Trends come and go in the fitness industry, but one of the key terms you will consistently hear trainers and sweat enthusiasts alike saying is “core.” Tone your core. Use your core. Find your core. Why aren’t you engaging your core?! Still, there are a number […]

Cut the gluten-free crap By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik’s One of the largest misconceptions that gets sent my way by people who are interested in a gluten-free lifestyle is: “But gluten-free is healthy, right?” Wrong. Sure, a gluten-free lifestyle can be healthy. But merely choosing gluten-free foods is not the one and only step in accomplishing a healthy […]

Healthy on-the-go By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik’s It’s that time of year when hopping on a plane or hitting the open road is a necessity for holiday travel. But whether you are visiting friends or family, or escaping the cold for a tropical vacation, it’s important to keep your healthy ways in check – no matter the season. […]

Checklist for surviving holiday temptations By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik’s Like a college student who is exploring the school cafeteria for the first time, the holidays are ripe with sugary desserts and calorie-laden dishes that are often enjoyed with reckless abandon. But in the same way that college freedom can bring on the so-called “freshman 15,” the season […]

Sipping on a special diet By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik’s The holiday season is a time for visiting with friends and family, getting cozy by the fire and, well, there’s a lot of eating and drinking mixed in there, too, right? For those of us who are looking to keep our health and waistlines in check, the abundance […]

Winter activities for the whole family By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik’s It’s inevitable: The winter months mean your family is spending more time inside. And while I don’t yet have kids of my own, I can imagine that too much indoor time would eventually take any parent to his or her breaking point. Cabin fever, indeed! “[The time […]

Budget-friendly DIY holiday gifts By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik’s I’m not exactly what you would call “crafty.” However, the holiday season seems to awaken my deepest desires to wear the label proudly. I’ve always wanted to be someone who could stitch something up like a pro – I secretly love walking up and down the aisles of JoAnn […]

Home for the holidays: Healthy alternatives By: Caroline Shannon-Karasik’s We get it: Nothing says “Home for the holidays!” like grandma’s homemade walnut-crusted apple pie; And mom’s shrimp dumplings; And Great Aunt Bertha’s sugar cookies; And your sister’s hand-stirred gravy; And the list goes on and on. The truth is, while the impending holidays are […]